Why You Should Be Rooting For Nikki Finke

Nikki Finke is back with her new web site and much of the talk of the move so far has involved speculation about whether or not she can wield anywhere close to the influence she had in the early days of the Internet.

The short answer is no, simply because there are a lot more competition and resources being thrown at covering Hollywood. And nearly everyone I've talked to in recent days about Finke seems to believe that despite her public bluster, she no longer has the drive or endurance to crank out the number of stories she'll need to make this site a legitimate comeback.

(For a look at that point of view, check out "No One Really Wants A Nikki Finke Comeback" from Buzzfeed's Kate Aurthur)

I think I'm being kind to describe Finke as a "character" and there is much to criticize about the way she does her job. She screams, she threatens, she plays favorites and holds grudges longer than most rational people would consider prudent.

But I hope she comes back blasting away. In an industry where "getting along" seems to be the primary goal, it's refreshing to see an entertainment journalist who isn't afraid to take on some important people. And while I wish she was a bit more subtle in her reporting style, the movie and TV world could use a bit more of her scorched earth-style pieces. She has balls and she often chooses making a point over keeping a friend and that's an attitude that has to be encouraged.

In an earlier piece this week, I wrote about CNBC and how its reporters have developed a bit of a Stockholm Syndrome when it comes to the people they cover on a daily basis. And there is more than a bit of that in the world of entertainment journalism. It's easy to become friendly with the people you cover and the publicists you interact with everyday. Hollywood is an industry town and you can't spend much time there without beginning to feel as you're part of a common community. That's a trait no one can accuse Finke of possessing, although she also has some blind spots when it comes to certain executives and media companies. But we all have our flaws and I'll suffer through hers in exchange for what she can potentially bring (back) to the industry.

Serious entertainment journalism is unlike just about any other category of reporting. Unlike tech or political or financial reporters, there aren't a lot of "brand names" in the industry. Aside from Finke, it's hard to imagine any TV or movie critic deciding to launch the entertainment equivalent of Vox.com or FiveThirtyEight. There are plenty of talented critics, but the world of entertainment journalism is kinder in a way that I don't think is always helpful to the readers or the industry.

I hope Nikki Finke's new effort works. Not so much because I care specifically about Finke, but because the entertainment industry can always use another loose cannon.

Give 'em hell, Nikki.

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